What Do I Need to Know Before Replacing My Air Conditioner?
You can’t know exactly when you’ll need to replace your air conditioner, but there are some signs that it might be time. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for:
If the weather is starting to get hotter and you want your house/building cooler or if it is getting colder and you want heat then this is a good indicator that it may be time to consider replacing your current system. It could just be that they’re no longer as efficient as they used to be, which means they’re using more energy than necessary. If this sounds like your situation, call in a professional.
The warranty of the unit has expired (normally around 10 years) or it is coming up on expiry soon (normally around 5 years) and your system is in need of some repairs which you cannot afford or do not want to pay for. In this case, it might be worth investing in a new unit to save the troubles later on down the line.
Checking your energy bills to see if they are higher than usual could also be an indicator that it is time to replace your air conditioner. If costs are high then there’s a chance that you’re using more energy than necessary – again, calling in a professional would help sort this out for you.
Some signs aren’t related to money at all; instead, they have to do with how comfortable the environment is inside your house/building. Do people feel hot even when the AC isn’t on? Our bodies adapt to our environment, so if you’ve been using an air conditioner for a long time then your body will have adapted. Thus, it might need some time to adjust when the AC is turned off.
The amount of work that your air conditioner is having to put in also helps determine whether or not it’s worth replacing before something goes wrong and you’re stuck with a massive repair bill on your hands. For example, does it sound like there is a lot of noise coming from the unit when it runs? Are there any strange smells coming from the vents? Are there any leaks being produced by the system? These are all signs that something isn’t right and replacement may be necessary.
Replacing an old air conditioner with a new unit is certainly not something that you can do in just one day. You need to make sure you have what’s needed, such as a place to put the unit and installation services for the professionals.